Truss



A. WILLARD.

' Truss.

Pat ented May 18, I880- Same immmk U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. WILLARD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRUSS'. v

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 227,708, dated May 18,1880.

- Application filed November 28, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WILLARD, of Worcester, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Trusses; and I declare the following to be adescription of my said invention sufficiently full, clear, and exact toenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of atruss embracing the feature of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe same. Fig. 3 illustrates the position of the truss-pads upon thebody. Fig. 4 is aback view of the back-pad. Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional view through the front pad and auxiliary pad. Fig. 6 shows theconstruction of the joint in the frame, and Fig. 7 is a sectional viewof the frame.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction ofhernia trusses or supporters with a View to provide a more efficient andcomfortable device than those heretofore in use.

I attain these objects by the truss mechanism hereinafter described.

In the drawin gs, A denotes the frame, which is formed of round metal ofsufficientsize to render it comparatively stiff and rigid, though havinga certain degree of elasticity due to the quality of ordinary steel oriron, but not formed especially as a spring. Said frame A is shaped topass around the hips of the wearer without pressing against the body,and is provided with laterally-swinging hinges on a, located and formedas illustrated, so that the forward parts, A A, may be swung outward, asindicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1, but are retained stiffly against anyvertical movement independent of the back portion, A while said hinges aare made flush or without enlargement or protuberances beyond thesurface of the frame. The forward extremities of the parts A areflattened and furnished with suitable openings for attachment to the Yholding-studs d.

The frame may be incased with leather or other suitable covering, asdesired, and the metal of the frame may be previously tinned, to preventrusting.

B indicates the back pad for sustaining the frame A in position. Saidpad is connected to the back portion, A in such manner that, while thepad is held securely and closely to the bow A and in a position paralleltherewith, it is free to have a rolling action against the frame-rod orto move longitudinally along said bowA so that the cushion of the padwill rest easily against the person regardless of any action or pressuretending to change the position of the frame relatively to the point ofsupport on the body. In the present instance the pad is provided withloops b 1) near its ends, which embrace the bow A, as shown.

0 indicates the hernia-pad, formed with two cushions, c c, to press theplaces or place of rupture. Said pad is centrally pivoted to aconnecting-bar, D, constructed of a flat bar of metal about threefourthsof an inch in width and about two-thirds of the length of the pad 0, asshown, the pivotf being arranged centrally in the bar D, whilefastening-studs d project from its ends and connect said bar D to theforward ends a of the frame A, thereby producing a comparatively-stiffmetallic hoop about the person, which sustains the pad 0 against inwardor outward pressure.

E E indicate small auxiliary pads arranged close to and immediatelybelow the cushions c, and which serve for giving gentle pressure againstthe front of the pelvis at either side of the genital organ, asindicated in Fig. 3,

passing down toward the scrotum.

The pads E consist of soft cushions supported by flexible metal springse, which are and the inclination of the frame when taking for preventingany tendency of the hernia high or low steps, or when one leg is raisedhigher than the other, simply inclines the bar D without tending tochange the position of the pad 0 against the person, and no strain orirritation is thereby brought upon the place of rupture.

Proper inclination may be imparted to the pads G E by twisting theflattened front ends a of the frame inward or outward, as desired.

The truss is fitted to the person by bending the frame to the requiredshape, so that the pads will give just the amount of pressure requiredfor holding the rupture, which is held by the rigidity of the frame andnot by a con- 1 tinnally-iollowing spring-pressure. I

l i r i l i i The truss can be made with or without the auxiliary padsE, or a single pad, E, may be used, as desired.

The back of the frame A may be offset upward, as indicated in Fig. 4, ifdesired, so that the pad B will occupy a higher position on the back ofthe wearer.

I am aware that truss-frames hare heretofore been made with hinges; alsothat round i metal has been employed for truss-frames; also thatauxiliary pads have been combined with the main pads of trusses; and Ido not desire to herein make claim, broadly, to such features.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The truss-frame A, composed of the parts A A, constructed and formed,as described, with flush side hinges, a, in combination with theconnecting-bar D, pivoted centrally at f and provided with suitablefastenings, and the supporting-pads B O, as set forth.

2. The pad or pads E, constructed with an internal supporting-spriug,and arranged, in

connection with the pad 0, relatively, in the peculiar mannerhereinbefore described, for the purpose set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 26th day of Novem ber, A. D. 1879.

GEORGE A. WVILLARD. Witnesses:

(Jr-ms. H. BURLEIGH, Usooon BRADLY, Jr.

